bumper yr for leeks

[Loudbarker1]

Mine are good, but mother's (about 200 yards away) are pretty puny :-)

[alldigging]

Firstly, never pull them out: slice them off just under the soil surface, and they'll regrow.

Second, have you fed them? If not, give them a dose of something

Really? Oh I'll have to try that.

And what do you feed them with?

[Bigmallly]

Thank you both - I think I'll save the kitchen rolls for next year's parsnips.

Just a couple of clips Flo........the first photo were picked today
(about 1.5" Diam) & I then transfer the drainpipe to the ones waiting, the only downfall with kitchen rolls maybe the weather breaking them down............yes I did try succession leeks & they seem to work.

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[Florence Fennel]

They are brilliant BM. Mine aren't as thick as that yet, but I'm pretty pleased with the way they are progressing. Now to see if I can get hold of some drainpipes, thanks

[Scarlet]

Well, mine were off to a flying start- thanks to Hawthorns cast offs but unfortunately they haven't done so well in my hands I didn't care for them well enough, they've had to fight for room with the weeds.

[arronb]

Hello, first time poster here.

My leeks on the plot have done great this year. I had some musselbrughs given to me during the summer and have been harvesting them for 4weeks now, haven't fed them or anything, I've just let nature do its thing.

[Bigmallly]

Welcome to the vine Aaron, now don't you go upsetting these grapes that have trouble growing their leeks................tell 'em your secret........

[veggiechicken]

All this talk of massive leeks - its time I showed you mine
Promise you won't laugh Its an experiment in growing leeks from the chopped off root ends of veg box leeks.

I'm growing carrot, beetroot and turnip leaves as well, but I'll let you laugh at those some other day

[arronb]

Thanks Bigmally.

There is no real secret I follow the same routine every year. With the size of plot I have I do not always grow in every bit of soil I leave a bit untouched, basically fallow (although I know that's not possible for many people).

The following year that's where I plant the leeks, then in there early stages just hoe between them to keep the weeds down, then basically forget about them until they're ready for harvesting.

[Bren In Pots]

Hello Arronb and welcome to the vine
You make leek growing sound simple so I was wondering when do you sow your seeds and are they kept indoors at any time.

[arronb]

Hello and thanks Bren.

I sow 2 lots, 1 around late March and 1 in May both in an unheated greenhouse so that I have a longer harvest period from November-February.

[binley100]

I have posh leeks this year too........just like I had posh sweetcorn and posh beetroot oh and posh kohl rabi ..........

[snakeshack]

sowed mine boxing day last year and pricked out into newspaper pots then planted out intoholes 8 ins deep made with a dibber in april,left the rain to wash them in/earth them up,now have about 50 an inch in diameter and with a 8-12 inch blanch,do feed with comfrey tea and diluted fresh urine though.